Natural Disaster Risk in Napoleon

Natural Hazard Profile: Napoleon, Missouri

Napoleon, in Lafayette County, is a small community of about 524 situated in the interior eastern United States. Its humid continental climate brings hot summers, cold winters, and collision of multiple air masses, and in particular year-round severe weather including tornadoes, ice storms, and floods. These conditions collectively define the natural hazard environment that Napoleon residents and property owners must navigate.

Napoleon's overall natural disaster risk is rated 6.0/10 (High) by FEMA's National Risk Index. Cold wave events are the primary hazard risk, driven by periodic invasions of Arctic air that drive wind chills to life-threatening levels and stress heating systems. Secondary hazards include heat and ice storm.

Within Missouri, Napoleon's risk is, near the 5.9/10 state average. Nationally, it ranks above the U.S. national average of 4.5/10. FEMA's analysis of Lafayette County identifies cold wave as the foremost hazard, followed by heat and ice storm. These rankings reflect the relative frequency and severity of each hazard type in the local environment.

With a high natural disaster risk rating, Napoleon residents benefit from taking preparedness seriously. Reviewing insurance coverage for cold wave and secondary hazards, registering for emergency alerts, and maintaining a household emergency kit are practical steps that can significantly reduce impact during a major event.